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Using the First Dunsandel Hall/Library to help others outside Dunsandel
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TitleUsing the First Dunsandel Hall/Library to help others outside Dunsandel
DescriptionKaitangata Mine Disaster
A terrible explosion occurred in February 1879 in the Kaitangata Railway and Coal Company's mine, South Otago [1].
The mine was located in a blind gully about half a mile from the bend of the Molyneux.
Thirty four miners were killed either by the explosion probably caused by fire damp (methane) or having to pass through a zone containing black damp (a suffocating mixture of carbon dioxide and other unbreathable gases.
There was “scarcely one household in the township which has not lost either a member or friend, and the lamentation is general”.
As soon as the news reached them yesterday, a gang of about thirty men from a neighbouring mine left for Kaitangata, and, assisted by volunteers from the neighbouring districts, these gentlemen and their brave followers devoted their energies unremittingly all night to the task of searching for the remains of the entrapped miners in the mine.
The following morning they started to hunt about some of the more remotely situated workings, a task involving so much danger from the probable accumulation of fire damp that no strangers were permitted to enter the mine.
Twenty-five of the men were married, and they left about 100 children. All were left destitute.
The coroner’s report identified faults in the mine’s safety practices and ventilation system. Apparently, the explosion had been sparked when the mine manager’s brother carried a candle into a disused part of the mine that was filled with fire damp.
The accident led to the introduction of stricter controls on the mining industry.
Following the Kaitangata mine disaster, a meeting was advertised in March 1879 [2] to consider ways to raise money for the support of the widows and children.
As a result a concert and dance was held in the hall [3,4] to a very large audience.
The concert consisted of singing and readings by the residents, assisted by some ladies and gentlemen from Christchurch and South Rakaia (now Rakaia township), and wound up with Negro comicalities, consisting of songs, dances, and recitations. Each item of the concert elicited rounds of applause.
A large number of people remained for the dance until 3 o’clock and since the hall had never been so well packed it was expected that the proceeds would be about £20 and would exceed any sum raised previously in the hall.
Famine in Ireland
A public meeting was advertised in February 1880 [5] to consider ways to raise funds and at a concert and ball held in the Dunsandel Hall [6] a month later, at which Arthur Westenra presided, over £60 was taken in the room for the Irish Famine Fund.
Britain and Belgium Relief Fund
At the start of WW1 a meeting held in the Dunsandel Hall [7] in September 1914 set up a committee to canvass the district for funds in aid of the Britain and Belgium Relief Fund.
On the same day a meeting [8] of ladies was held in the hall to discuss ways and means of assisting the fund.
It was decided to purchase material with the money collected, and a committee was appointed to sew and knit for the fund.
Later the same month a patriotic concert [9,10] given by old scholars of the Southbridge District High School in the Dunsandel Hall raised about £17 for the fund.
Civilian Blind Fund
An advertisement appeared on 14th June 1922 advertising a grand concert in the hall for the Civilian Blind Fund.
A commentary in the same issue stated that “the promoters are sparing no efforts to provide a first-class entertainment” [11]. The report of the concert and dance [12] said “the hall was crowded to the doors, and the fund will benefit to the extent of about £24.
An enjoyable programme was supplied by the local All-star Variety Company which included Misses R. and M. Lill, D. Chatterton, and M. Wraight, Messrs L.P. Wilson, S. Beecroft, J. Wraight, F. Owers, E. Weld, and A.J. Sheat, under the direction of Mr L.B. Wilson, with Miss J. Smith as the accompaniste.
The first half of the programme was a restaurant scene of ‘Dunsandel in 1950.' All the performers were in evening dress, and with a stage setting of black and white, it gave the scene a finished appearance.
The second portion of the programme was a "convivial" scene, where everybody was dressed in sports attire.
Details were provided in the Ellesmere Guardian [13]. According to the report this talented company intended giving another concert in Dunsandel at a future date, and promised that a musical review, entitled "Wild West" would be staged.
Unfortunately no report of the musical review could be found but the Company did put on a concert for the Dunsandel Football Clubs’ injured players in November 1922, and this was apparently the third time they had appeared [14].
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date1879-1922LocationDunsandel
DescriptionKaitangata Mine DisasterA terrible explosion occurred in February 1879 in the Kaitangata Railway and Coal Company's mine, South Otago [1].
The mine was located in a blind gully about half a mile from the bend of the Molyneux.
Thirty four miners were killed either by the explosion probably caused by fire damp (methane) or having to pass through a zone containing black damp (a suffocating mixture of carbon dioxide and other unbreathable gases.
There was “scarcely one household in the township which has not lost either a member or friend, and the lamentation is general”.
As soon as the news reached them yesterday, a gang of about thirty men from a neighbouring mine left for Kaitangata, and, assisted by volunteers from the neighbouring districts, these gentlemen and their brave followers devoted their energies unremittingly all night to the task of searching for the remains of the entrapped miners in the mine.
The following morning they started to hunt about some of the more remotely situated workings, a task involving so much danger from the probable accumulation of fire damp that no strangers were permitted to enter the mine.
Twenty-five of the men were married, and they left about 100 children. All were left destitute.
The coroner’s report identified faults in the mine’s safety practices and ventilation system. Apparently, the explosion had been sparked when the mine manager’s brother carried a candle into a disused part of the mine that was filled with fire damp.
The accident led to the introduction of stricter controls on the mining industry.
Following the Kaitangata mine disaster, a meeting was advertised in March 1879 [2] to consider ways to raise money for the support of the widows and children.
As a result a concert and dance was held in the hall [3,4] to a very large audience.
The concert consisted of singing and readings by the residents, assisted by some ladies and gentlemen from Christchurch and South Rakaia (now Rakaia township), and wound up with Negro comicalities, consisting of songs, dances, and recitations. Each item of the concert elicited rounds of applause.
A large number of people remained for the dance until 3 o’clock and since the hall had never been so well packed it was expected that the proceeds would be about £20 and would exceed any sum raised previously in the hall.
Famine in Ireland
A public meeting was advertised in February 1880 [5] to consider ways to raise funds and at a concert and ball held in the Dunsandel Hall [6] a month later, at which Arthur Westenra presided, over £60 was taken in the room for the Irish Famine Fund.
Britain and Belgium Relief Fund
At the start of WW1 a meeting held in the Dunsandel Hall [7] in September 1914 set up a committee to canvass the district for funds in aid of the Britain and Belgium Relief Fund.
On the same day a meeting [8] of ladies was held in the hall to discuss ways and means of assisting the fund.
It was decided to purchase material with the money collected, and a committee was appointed to sew and knit for the fund.
Later the same month a patriotic concert [9,10] given by old scholars of the Southbridge District High School in the Dunsandel Hall raised about £17 for the fund.
Civilian Blind Fund
An advertisement appeared on 14th June 1922 advertising a grand concert in the hall for the Civilian Blind Fund.
A commentary in the same issue stated that “the promoters are sparing no efforts to provide a first-class entertainment” [11]. The report of the concert and dance [12] said “the hall was crowded to the doors, and the fund will benefit to the extent of about £24.
An enjoyable programme was supplied by the local All-star Variety Company which included Misses R. and M. Lill, D. Chatterton, and M. Wraight, Messrs L.P. Wilson, S. Beecroft, J. Wraight, F. Owers, E. Weld, and A.J. Sheat, under the direction of Mr L.B. Wilson, with Miss J. Smith as the accompaniste.
The first half of the programme was a restaurant scene of ‘Dunsandel in 1950.' All the performers were in evening dress, and with a stage setting of black and white, it gave the scene a finished appearance.
The second portion of the programme was a "convivial" scene, where everybody was dressed in sports attire.
Details were provided in the Ellesmere Guardian [13]. According to the report this talented company intended giving another concert in Dunsandel at a future date, and promised that a musical review, entitled "Wild West" would be staged.
Unfortunately no report of the musical review could be found but the Company did put on a concert for the Dunsandel Football Clubs’ injured players in November 1922, and this was apparently the third time they had appeared [14].
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date1879-1922LocationDunsandelClick on the image to add
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Using the First Dunsandel Hall/Library to help others outside Dunsandel (1879-1922). Selwyn Stories, accessed 06/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5508
